16/01/2014 - From BSM Studio to Why Not, Memento, Premium Films, Versatile, Wild Bunch and Arizona: French professionals are present in Park City

A new demonstration of the strong involvement of the French cinematographic industry in world production showcased at the Sundance Film Festival, which begins today.

Parisian company Premium Films will continue the sales of White Shadow [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Noaz Deshe
film profile] by Noaz Deshe in Park City. A co-production between Italy, Germany and Tanzania, the film discovered at the Critics’ Week of the Venice Mostra is part of the 12 titles selected in competition in the World Dramatic Cinema section.

French sellers will also negotiate in Park City for two other features competing in the World Dramatic Cinema Competition section. Versatile is selling Blind [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Eskil Vogt
interview: Eskil Vogt
film profile] by Norwegian director Eskil Vogt (read the article) and Memento Films International’s line up features Lock Charmer (El cerrajero) by Argentinean filmmaker Natalia Smirnoff. It is also worth noting that the programme includes To Kill a Man (Matar a un hombre) by Chilean director Alejandro Fernandez Almendras, coproduced by Parisian company Arizona Films (news).

The sales team of Memento Films will be particularly solicited because it also handles two films directed by Americans: Cold in July by Jim Mickle, 100% funded by France (BSM Studio operated by Backup Media with the label Paradise City of La Cinefacture) and running in the flagship section U.S. Dramatic Competition, as well as Blue Ruin by Jeremy Saulnier, unveiled in the Directors’ Fortnight in Cannes and which will be screened in Park City in the Spotlight section.

In the Premières section, White Bird in a Blizzard stands out by American director Gregg Araki, produced as a delegate by French company Why Not Productions (Pascal Caucheteux and Sebastien K. Lemercier) and sold internationally by Wild Bunch, which also handles the American feature Wish I Was Here by Zac Braff, selected in the same section.  

It is finally worth mentioning that the Spotlight section will present Stranger by the Lake [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Alain Guiraudie
film profile] by Alain Guiraudie, Best Director at the Certain Regard in Cannes (production Les Films du Worso - sales Les Films du Losange), while the animated film Ernest & Célestine [+see also:
film review
trailer
interview: Benjamin Renner, Vincent Pa…
film profile] was selected for the programme of Sundance Kids, and three French documentaries will take part in the international competition in their category (read the news).

(Translated from French)